Basket-making machine.



No. 881,320. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.-

\ ELHURTON.

BASKET MAKING MAGHINB.

APPLICATION IIIQED JAN, 14,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 881,320. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.. E. HORTON.

. BASKET MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ms uomus PETERS 60., WASHINGTON D. c.

EMMET HORTdN, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

BASKET-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed January 14, 1907. Serial No. 352,180.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EMMET HORTON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Basket Making Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the mechanism for feeding blanks to formbaskets or boxes and particularly to the mechanism for feeding the bandsused in the construction of baskets of the kind in which the sides andbottom of the basket are formed from crossed pieces of wood veneer orsimilar material, which are bent into shape by forming mechanism and areheld in their bent or shaped condition by bands or strips of wood orsimilar material secured to the upper edges of the sides of the basket.the U. S. have been granted to me for imppovements in such machines. Asexam- P of May 24, 1904, N0..765,839, of July 26, 1904, and No. 835,135,of November 6, 1906.

The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism forseparating the bands from the stacks or piles and delivering them to thebasket forming mechanism with greater regularity than heretofore,thereby increasing the output of the machine. Where the bands vary inthickness, there is some chance of the feed mechanism heretofore emploed missing a band now and then, thus de aying the operation of themachine. The band feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with mypresent invention operates equally well on thick and thin bands and thusthere is no delayin the operation of the machine due to imperfectfeeding of the bands.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 shows a right hand sideelevation of so much of a basket making machine as is necessary to showhow my improvements may be embodied therein. Fig. 2 is. a similar viewof the left hand side of the machine. Fig. 3 shows a front elevationwith parts in vertical section of part of the mechanism. Fig. 4. shows atransverse section on the line 4-4. of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a frontelevation with parts broken away and some parts omitted of the band feedmechanism. Fig. 6 is a perspective viewon an enlarged scale of the bandfolding, guiding and improved band separating and feeding mechanism inSeveral patents of I will refer to my Patents No. 760,791

their relation to the basket form. Fig. 7 shows a sectional plan of theform and the band holding, separating and feeding devices. Fig. 8 is adetail plan View of the form shaft, (with the form shaft in section) oneof its actuating gears and the reciprocating frame for actuating theband feeders. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the form shaft, its actuatinggears and the frame for actuating the band feeders with devices operatedby the form shaft for giving an up and down movement to the frame. Fig.10 is a detail view in front elevation of one of the band separating andfeeding devices (the one on the right hand side of the machine) andcertain parts associated therewith. Fig. 11 is a detail view in verticalsection on the line 1111 of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of thearrow. Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of the band separating andfeeding disks and the needle carried thereby.

In my 1904 and No. 765,839 of July 26, 190 1, I have shown means forholding two piles of bands and for separating the lowermost band fromthe pile, said means comprising spiral plates or screws, the upper endsof which enter between the bottom bands in the piles and which cause thebands to be moved into the paths of rotary cam disks Patents No. 760,791of May 24, i V

which cause the bands to be conveyed into the paths of vertically movingplungers which push the bands into engagement with the form.

In the band feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with my presentinvention the holding frames and the guides for the bands are similar tothose shown in my patents above mentioned, while the devices forseparating the bands from the piles and delivering them to the bandplungers are diflerent.

'The main frame, Q, is similar to that heretofore employed by me. I haveshown only that portion of the frame which is concerned in supportingthe mechanism for operating the form and the band feeding mechanism. Theform, A, which is of the construction shown in my Patent No. 765,839 ismounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft, B, geared at b with ashaft, C, which extends downwardly and rearwardly through bearings, c,c, of the frame to a gear wheel, 0, by which it is driven. The mechanismfor driving the form is the same as that shown in my last mentionedpatent. The

upper part, Q, of the frame has a bearing bracket, g, for the lowerportion of the form shaft, B, and a stationary cross head, 9, in whichthe upper part of the form shaft has a bearing.

The two piles of bands, X, are arranged on opposite sides of'the form,as heretofore, their outer ends being held iii-frames, R, of usualconstruction, which are suitably supported on the main frame. Othersupports, R, for the bands may also be employed. The inner ends of thebands extend into the spaces between plates, D and E, and vertical rods,F. There is a plate, D, and a plate, E, on each side of the lowerbearing bracket, g, and both of the plates are secured to said bracket,in the manner shown in Fig. 3, each of said plates being formed with alaterally projecting flange, e, bolted to the top of said bracket. Eachplate, E, is provided with a vertically extending portion, E, formedwith grooves for guiding a weight, G, which rests on the top of the pileof bands below it, holds them properly in place, and tends to move themdownwardly. The inner ends of the bands in each pile rest against a gageplate, H, the gage plate on the right hand side of the machine beingattached'to a portion of the frame, H, as indicated inFig. 6,while theother gage plate, namely, that on the left hand side of the machine, isattached to a part, H of the frame, as indicated in Fig. 2. Each of saidgage plates is formed with a flange, h, for facilitating its attachmentto the frame. Each gage plate serves as a stop or gage for the innerends of the bands in the manner specified in my former patents. Thevertical bar, F, on the right hand side of the machine is attached to aframe part, F, which latter is attached to the frame part, H, beforereferred to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. There is a part, H similar tothe part F, on the left hand side of the machine which is in like mannerprovided with a vertical rod, F, as indicated in Fig. 2. To each framepart F, or H is secured a bar or axle, I, which extends on the righthand side of the machine forwardly and on the left hand side of themachine rearwardly through a disk, J, havinga long hub, To the outer endof each bar or axle, I, is attached a guide plate, K, the lower portionof which is of the shape shown in my patents above mentioned and serve asimilar purpose. Each plate is, however, formed with an upwardlyprojecting portion, K, which has not heretofore been used and whichserves a new purpose. It serves to hold the bands in the lower portionof the pile in a proper vertical position, in the manner indicated inFig. 10, and also to prevent the lower bandsin the pile from being movedout of place when the disk, J, is being moved backwardly or in adirection contrary to its-feeding movement. The plates, K, as describedin my former patents, serve to guide the bands into the paths of bandplungers, L, which are constructed in the manner shown in my beforementioned patents, and operate in the same way.

The band plungers are attached to a cross head, L, which is mounted toreciprocate vertically on the form shaft. It is operated by a lever, Lpivoted at Z, to the main frame and connected by a rod, L", to itsactuating mechanism. Fig. 3 shows one of the band plungers connectedwith the cross head, L. The band plungers may be provided with rods, Lextending through blocks, If, to exert a friction in the mannerspecified in my former patents. Each band plunger is formed with lugs, ZZ, the lug, Z", serving to strip the completed basket from the form,while the lug, Z serves to push a band into engagement with the formhook, (1 The parts, F, and H are formed with guides, M, which serve todirect the bands towards the form hook after they have been turned bythe band feeding devices, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. Each ofthe disks, J, is ar ranged to oscillate beneath a pile of bands. It hasa curved surface or peripheral portion, as, at the top on which the pileof bands rests and which is adapted to move back and forth beneath thepile without moving the lowermost band therefrom. The disk is alsoformed with a curved surface or peripheral portion, 90, of less radiusthan that of the surface, x, there being a shoulder, at, between the twosurfaces. The surface, 00, serves to support a band while it is beingmoved from beneath the pile in the proper position to be engaged by theband plungers. The sur faces, 9c, 90, do not constitute the entirecircumference of the disk, but only a portion of it. It is obvious,therefore, that the separating and feeding devices need not be in theform of a disk, although the disk shape is pre ferred. Near theshoulder, x is arranged a needle, Y, for engaging the lowermost band inthe pile. The shank of the needle is clamped to the disk, J, by means ofa plate, y, and a screw, y. The inner end, 1 of the plate is flanged andthis flange enters a recess, M, in the disk. In this way the plate iskept from slipping and is clamped securely by means of the screw, y, tohold the needle in proper position. It is obvious that by the devicesshown the needle may be adjusted as circumstances require. Theprojecting point of the needle extends outward from the shoulder, 90,its extreme outer end being preferably approximately in line with thesurface, 00.

The manner in which the feeding devices just described operate, will bemore fully described later on. A plate, K is attached to a downwardlyextending part E of the upwardly projecting portion E, of each throatplate, E. Its outer edge, Z0 lies close to the inner edge of the bands,X, and its lower outer corner, z, is located a short distance above thedisk. The plate is held securely in place by a set screw, K and it mayhave a slight vertical adjustment. 7c, indicates a guide, the edge ofwhich is curved, as shown in Fig. 10, around a portion of the peripheryof the disk. This curved surface serves to guide a separated band intothe throat, Z, where the band is engaged by the band pluners. g In orderto oscillate the disks, 1' preferably employ the mechanism next to bedescribed. To each disk, J, is pivotally connected a vertical connectingrod, N, which is joined at n to a vertically reciprocating bar, 0. Tothe upper end of each bar, 0, is fixed a vertically moving P,surrounding the upper portion of the form shaft, B, loosely and thesleeve is adapted to move up and down relatively to the form shaft whilenot rotating therewith. The

' frame, P, beneath its sleeve, P, is formed with a cam track, 1), whichrests on a roller, P, mounted to revolve in bearings fixed to the formshaft. The sleeve is formed at its upper end with a cam track, P acrosswhich extends a stud or pin, 1', carried by the form shaft. Thearrangement is such that as the form shaft rotates an up and downmovement is given to the frame which causes the bars, 0, to reciprocatevertically and through the medium of the connecting rods, N, anoscillating movement is given to the disks, J.

Normally the piles of bands rest on the curved edges, w, of the disks asindicated in Fig. 10. When the frame P, drops or is moved downwards theshoulders, :0 move upwardly and rearwardly until they pass under andrearwardly beyond the bands. The lowermost band in the pile on each sideof the machine then drops on to the surface, ac, of each disk and intothe path of the needles. When the frame, P, rises the disks moveforward, causing the needles to engage the under sides of the lowermostbands and move them inwards. The bands first come in contact with thelower outer corners of the guide plates, K which turn the bands downwardand then the bands come in contact with the curved guides, k, whichdirect the bands downward into the channels or throats, Z. When thebands reach the channels, the band plungers engage them and push theminto engagement with the form. Then the frame, P, descends and theneedles are retracted and brought into position to again engage thelowermost bands in the piles. Of course the band feed mechanism is sotimed as to feed the bands at proper intervals relatively to themechanism which feeds and bends the body blanks and the nailingmechanism which secures the bands and the body blanks together.

While my improvements are especially adapted for feeding bands forbaskets of the kind specified and are shown as applied to frame, P. Thisframe has a sleeve, 1

band feeding mechanism of this kind, I wish it understood .that they maybe applied to other machines for feeding blanks in the, construction ofother kinds of baskets or boxes fromthose specified. 7

I claim as my invention,

1. A blank feeder for basket making machines having a curved surface onwhich the blanks normally rest, a shoulder and a needle projecting fromthe shoulder adapted to engage the under side of the lowermost blank inthe pile, means for actuating the blank feeder and a guide for turningthe blank while it is being fed to cause it to assume a position withone of its longitudinal edges beneath blank plungers, and blank plungersadapted to further move the blank.

2. A blank feeder having a curved surface on which the blanks normallyrest, a shoulder, a needle projecting from said shoulder and pointing inthe general direction of movement of the blank feeder and which isadapted to engage the under side of the lowermost blank in the pilebetween its longitudinal edges and guides for directing the blank whilebeing moved by the feeder.

3. The combination of means for holding a pile of bands, an oscillatingfeeder below the pile having a curved surface on which the bands rest,and a needle projecting from the surface and pointing in the generaldirection of the movement of the feeder and adapted to engage thelowermost band in the pile between its longitudinal edges, means foroscillating the band feeder, and means for guiding the bands while beingfed.

4. A blank feeder having an outer peripheral surface on which the blanksnormally rest, a peripheral inner surface of less radius on which theblanks are carried while being fed, and a shoulder between saidsurfaces, a

needle projecting from the shoulder for engaging the blanks betweentheir longitudinal edges,"means for oscillating the blank feeder and aguide for directing the bands while being fed.

5. The combination of means for supporting a vertical pile of bands, aband feeder having a curved surface on which the bands rest, av needleprojecting from the surface of the feeder and ada ted to engage thelowermost band in the pi e between its longitudinal edges, a guide fordirecting the bands while being fed, and an adjustable plate above thefeeder at one sideof the bands, one corner of the lower portion of whichis adapted to engage the lowermost band and direct it while being movedby the feeder and one vertical edge of which serves to hold theremaining bands in place.

6. The combinatlon with means for holding a pile of bands of anoscillating disk having a curved surface on which the bands rest, aneedle projecting tangentially from the curved surface of the disk,means for oscillating the disk, and while being fed.

7. The combination of means for holding a vertical pile of bands, of anoscillating disk having a curved surface on which the bands rest, aneedle projecting from this surface tangentially and adapted to engagethe lower most band in the pile between its longitudinal edges, and acurved guide for directing the bandswhile being fed and which operatesin connection with the disk to turn the band to cause it to assume aposition with it's longitudinal edges one above the other, for thepurpose specified.

S. The combination of means for holding the blanks in a pile, a form towhich the blanks are fed, a rotary shaft to which the form is secured, aframe reciprocated by the shaft, a blank feeder and connections betweensaid blank feeder and said reciprocating frame.

9. The combination of a form, its rotating shaft, a frame sleevedthereon, devices operated by the form shaft for reciprocating saidframe, the oscillating blank carriers and conmeans for guiding the bandnections between said blank carriers and said reciprocating frame.

10. The combination of means for holding the blanks in a pile, a blankfeeding disk on the periphery of which the blanks rest, a weight restingon the pile of blanks and pressing them towards the disk, a needlecarried by the disk for engaging the under side of the blanks and meansfor oscillating said disk.

11. The combination having upwardly projecting guide portions, weightsmounted thereon, the guide plates having upwardly projecting portionsnear the lower portions of the piles of blanks, the adjustable guideplates opposite said upwardly projecting portions and oscillating lankfeeders arranged below the pile of I. B. COLEMAN, GUs. Worremn.

of the throat plates,

at (l

